Helen Xu, a former brain surgeon, made headlines when she left her high-profile medical career to work at an Amazon warehouse.
Her decision to pivot from a six-figure salary to stacking shelves has sparked significant interest and discussion.
Xu’s reasons for leaving medicine and her experiences at Amazon reveal the surprising benefits she has found in her new career.
Her journey highlights the positive changes and opportunities that have emerged from this career shift.
Helen Xu shifted from medicine to Amazon
Helen Xu, 31, from Brisbane, worked as an assistant brain surgeon at a Queensland hospital starting in 2018.
Her career took a dramatic turn during the COVID-19 pandemic, which began in 2020.
Xu found herself working nearly every day with grueling shifts of up to 30 hours.
As hospitals faced unprecedented pressure, the demands on her intensified.
Additionally, Xu frequently faced being called in to cover extra shifts. The reason was that she had no family obligations.
The relentless schedule also took a toll on her personal life.
As a result, she was exhausted and had little time for friends and family.
By September 2021, Xu decided she needed a change and left her medical career behind.
Xu finally found a new path at Amazon
In a surprising turn of events, Xu turned to Amazon for a fresh start.
According to Helen Xu, she was impressed by the delivery speed during Amazon’s lockdown period.
‘I’d never worked in anything like that before but I was frequently ordering things off Amazon and thought ”why do they deliver so much faster than other companies?”,’ she told Daily Mail Australia.
She then saw an ad for a warehouse position and decided to apply
By October 2021, Xu began working as a casual warehouse associate for the delivery giant.
Initially, Xu’s role involved preparing customer orders, loading boxes onto trucks, and stocking shelves.
Despite her lack of previous experience in warehousing, she found the work environment and culture at Amazon to be a significant improvement over her previous job.
Xu noted that Amazon’s inclusive culture, with employees from various professional backgrounds, was a stark contrast to her previous job.
The high-pressure environment she left behind was notably different from the supportive atmosphere at Amazon.
Xu’s career growth and work-life balance after joining Amazon
Since starting at Amazon, Xu has advanced to a full-time operations shift manager position.
She appreciates the change in pace and the work culture, which she describes as supportive and non-judgmental.
The new role offers her a better work-life balance compared to her demanding days in the operating room.
Xu’s shift to Amazon also brought a different financial dynamic.
While the base salary for an assistant surgeon is approximately $113,792, Amazon warehouse associates earn around $32 per hour.
Despite the pay discrepancy, Xu values the balance between her work hours and personal time.
Her role at Amazon allows her to financially support herself while enjoying a more manageable schedule.
Xu’s reflections and future plans after joining Amazon
Reflecting on her decision, Xu has no immediate plans to return to the medical field.
She appreciates the cultural shift and the inclusive environment at Amazon.
‘It’s very different and is part of the reason why I ended up staying because the work culture is super inclusive,’ she said.
‘There’s no judgement of what your background is or experience. People are from all different walks of life, some have backgrounds in law and education while others own their own businesses.
‘It’s really opened my mind as to how inclusive the environment is.’
Her transition from showed the importance of work-life balance and personal fulfillment.
As Amazon continues its hiring spree, with 600 seasonal positions available for the Christmas rush.
Xu’s story serves as a reminder of the diverse paths careers can take.
Additionally, it shows the value of finding a job that aligns with one’s personal needs and values